By: Alieu Ceesay
After weeks of tension and uncertainty, the University of Applied Science, Engineering, and Technology (USET) staff members can finally sigh relief as their sit-down strike ends following a deal with authorities.
The Staff Welfare Association (SWA-USET) announcement states that the strike demands have been met, and staff are expected to return to work on October 8th, 2024.
“We had no choice but to strike. Our concerns were being ignored, but now, we are glad that action has been taken after the media highlighted our struggle,” the group said.
Four of the six demands tabled by the staff have been fully addressed. Notably, D1,432,036 was paid to the Credit Union, D271,000 to the Staff Welfare Contributions, and D1,132,000 to Performance Allowances.
Additionally, USET management, in collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoHERST), is working with the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) to ensure staff receive tax clearance. “Those who had already paid for their clearance have been advised to submit their receipts to the Accounts office for a refund.”
However, two key issues remain unresolved. The USET management has been tasked with developing a payment plan for Social Security contributions, and both the management and the Governing Council are expected to finalize a policy on the USET pay scale.
The Staff Welfare Association assured staff that these matters will be closely monitored to ensure full compliance.
In a statement, the association expressed its commitment to advocating for the welfare of the university staff: “We are committed to ensuring that staff welfare is given utmost consideration.”
As USET staff return to work, cautious optimism remains. “We’ve made progress, but we’ll continue to push until all our demands are met,” another staff member said. The strike is over for now, but the work to secure fair treatment for staff continues.
